Pirro slowly opened his eyes, waiting for his blurry vision to adjust. He could feel blood drying on his face and in the strands of blonde hair that hung loosely in his face. His head pounded in his ears, tender as if someone had struck it with a hammer. Pirro looked down at his arm, which was darkened and puffy from the broken bone. His robe and outfit were torn in places, exposing bruised skin.

I can't move.

In fact, he couldn't feel anything below his collarbone. Part of that worried him and part of it relieved him, it would be a while before he'd have to feel the pain of the bruises that dotted his body, and whatever other bones that were broken.

"Finally awake, huh? You were out for nearly two days. I was beginning to think you'd kicked the bucket."

Pirro tensed at the sound of his captor's voice. Genkaku.

The tall man knelt in front of him, smirking. "Don't worry, I just used some poison to paralyze you for a few hours. Not like it matters, you won't be able to move anyway once I've shown you my Nen Ability. I wonder, though, why on earth would the Chairman be so stupid as to send you by yourself? I took out a group of adults two weeks ago, after all, and you're only a child."

"I chose to go alone." Pirro replied simply. "You nearly killed my father, so I wanted to be the one to return the favor tenfold."

Genkaku struck him on one side of his face, not as hard as he could, but enough to silence him. "I didn't ask you. However, that's interesting information. In fact, you kind of look like one of the men in that group a while back." He snickered. "I gave him a special dose of my Nen. His reaction was priceless!"

Pirro felt rage building up inside of him, but it was halted as Genkaku moved his hands towards Pirro's face. A silent gasp escaped Pirro's mouth as Genkaku held one side of his head and rolled back one of his eyelids, slowly removing one of his black contacts. Then, he removed the other one, exposing a pair of bright scarlet eyes.

"Ah, a Kurta, are we? Then let's give you some of your family history…" Genkaku put a hand to each side of Pirro's head and released his aura. Pirro found himself unable to struggle as his vision dissolved around him…

Omoide- Inspired by the effects of a tree that gives off poisonous fumes. Replaying a horrific event in your mind, usually a bad memory or strong fear. Depending on the victim, it could eventually drive them insane.

….

Lily dropped her bag by the closet and collapsed on her bed, sighing with relief and exhaustion. She hadn't thought collecting Spider Eagle eggs would be so difficult.

She reached over to her nightstand and picked up her phone, checking the notifications on the screen. Pirro still hadn't texted back, and she was beginning to worry.

The last text he'd sent was that he'd be gone for a couple of days for some mission, and he'd contact her as soon as he got back.

That was three days ago.

When Lily had met Pirro at the Hunter Exam, she had playfully flirted with him, but not out of attraction. She was just amused by his reaction.

But a couple of months later, she came across Kuondo on the Hunter Website's forum. She left a casual hello, and he cheerfully replied and asked her if she wanted to talk to Pirro.

Silly Kuondo was playing matchmaker.

However, when she talked to Pirro, despite their awkward start, they quickly became friends. Though with someone as friendly as Pirro, it wasn't that hard.

Over the course of over six month, Lily and Pirro got closer, talking nearly every day, blabbing on about their jobs as Hunters and their personal lives.

As Lily recalled Pirro's happy and friendly messages, she found herself smiling brightly. She couldn't help it. He just made her so happy.

Maybe Kuondo was right, Lily thought, maybe I do have a crush on him.

But Pirro hadn't said a word in three days, and after a mission, no less. And he was a Blacklist Hunter! Surely Lily had the right to worry!

Making her decision, Lily picked up her phone and dialed Kuondo's number.

When he picked up, she didn't give him time to say a word.

"Kuondo, what's going on?"

…

Pirro cried out in terror, his eyes flying open.

He was back in Genkaku's hideout, but that didn't comfort him.

It was unlike any nightmare he'd ever had. It felt real.

The cries of alarm, then fear. The chaos. The Spiders.

And blood, so much blood.

Panting heavily and trembling, Pirro felt tears welling up in his eyes. He looked up fiercely at his captor, trying to look unfazed. But his breathing caught anyway and the tears came streaming down his face.

Genkaku smirked. "Your reaction's almost as good as your father's. And to think, that entire clan, massacred without a single survivor, is what your dear old dad came home to see."

"You're insane…"

"Nope, just a magician, my friend. Won't your little friends come for you? Will they be just as spineless?"

"No way…" Pirro replied, forcing a smirk. "If I don't kill you, one of them will. Kuondo's even stronger than I am. When we were little, I was very timid, but I felt just as safe around him as I did my parents. He's like my brother, and the leader of our group. Because he has a heart, unlike you. Even if you kill me now, you'll still die."

Genkaku's eyes flared. "You talk too much, brat!" He struck Pirro again, but this time with what seemed to be all his might, sending Pirro skidding a couple of yards away.

As he lay on his side, Pirro was beginning to regain the feeling in his body, but it was too painful to move. Spitting out the blood that came trickling into his mouth, he closed his eyes. I'm sorry, you guys, but I don't think I can hold on much longer…

…

Kuondo: Next time on HxH G2, The X Fight X Begins! Genkaku, you'll pay for what you did to Pirro! Let's go, Illuko!